The title "Target Practice" of NRA magazine next to Nancy Pelosi, the photos of Gabrielle Giffords criticized for violent

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) Escorts former Representative Gabrielle Giffords following the introduction of the Universal Benchmarking Audit Act at the US Capitol on Tuesday. (Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post)

Next to a photo of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), And former Arizona lawmaker, Gabrielle Giffords, were the words "Practice of target".

It was the An article in the National Rifle Association's American Rifleman magazine, in which the author, NRA chief lobbyist Chris W. Cox, criticized the new bipartisan antecedents audit law. But in the eyes of others, the headlines and the accompanying photo of Pelosi and Giffords, who were shot in the head at Tucson in 2011, were saying more than just the article.

"The words of the NRA here are clear" tweeted Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.). "They can pretend that the article is talking about something different. But everyone can see what is suggested against [Pelosi and Giffords]. It is time to close them with our votes and votes. "

A firestorm erupted over the weekend after pictures of the broadcast in the March edition of the magazine began circulating on social media, inviting parents of children killed at the Parkland shootout as well as the Democratic legislators. Some, including Swalwell, have called for legal consequences against the ANR for its "Target Practice" title, while other gun rights advocates have insisted that critics read too much in the words.

Democrats and others have accused the NRA of intentionally seeking to incite violence against Pelosi and Giffords (on his left) under the heading "Target Practice". (Screen Capture / American Rifleman magazine) ((Screen Capture / American Rifleman magazine) / (Screen Capture / American Rifleman magazine))

Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-Tex.) Was one of those who rejected criticism, particularly Swalwell, who he said had elicited outrage.

"How can you claim that?" He said in response to the California congressman. "Are you deliberately lying or did you read it? The article discusses legislation targeting gun owners and not the NRA targeting Democrats. If your goal is to make sure that the "culture of outrage" is doing well and continues to divide us, congratulations.

The NRA could not be contacted immediately for a comment, although spokeswoman Dana Loesch retweeted Sunday an article about Crenshaw's remarks. The American Rifleman magazine is the official NRA publication, with more than two million print and online readers, according to its media kit.

The reaction began Friday night after Jennifer Bendery, political reporter at HuffPost, tweeted images of the spread, and it sped up after the parents of teenagers killed during the mbad shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school also condemned the image, thus equating it with domestic terrorism.

"Who are you trying to bully @NRA?" Manuel Oliver writes, who lost his son, Joaquin Oliver, in the shooting. "Now you should know that we are not giving a [expletive] about your efforts to terrorize a nation. This propaganda to the "Nazi" shows only your weak power over society ".

Fred Guttenberg, who lost his daughter Jaime during the Parkland Mbadacre, called on members of the ANR to give up their membership over the spread.

"The covers and magazine titles are very well thought out," he wrote on Twitter. "People get a lot of money for decisions like this. The decision in NRA magazine to publish an article titled Target Practice next to the Pelosi and Giffords photo is intentional. It's an incitement to violence and not OK! "

He continued: "For those who have never disputed my claim that current ANR leaders use terrorist tactics, look no further."

The controversy arises as lawmakers, journalists and other public figures have been perceived as alleged threats in recent months. On Thursday, Roger Stone was forced to excuse himself in federal court the day after posting an image of Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who oversees her case of obstructing the justice, with what appeared to be a visible reticle on his shoulder. A coastguard lieutenant was arrested on February 15th. Prosecutors accused him of planning a terrorist attack after the discovery of an arsenal of firearms. A blacklist targeting politicians and journalists as well as equipment for making explosives was found in his possession. And last year, a man whose white van had images of Democrats with targets on his face was arrested after sending bomb pipes to prominent lawmakers and CNN.

"This is only slightly more sophisticated than Roger Stone did last week," said John Iadarola, Liberal expert and talk show host online. m said of the American Rifleman spread Saturday.

Democrats Cory Booker (N.J.), presidential candidate, and Seth Moulton (Mbad.) Were also among legislators who condemned this spread.

Pelosi did not intervene, but his daughter, Christine Pelosi, called the NRA magazine "criminal" on Sunday.

"We must condemn the intentional and scandalous criminal incitement of the NRA," she wrote on Twitter. "We can not allow this hate speech to put an end to common sense in the prevention of gun violence such as # HR8."

A bipartisan group of legislators on January 8 introduced House Resolution 8, the Bipartite Background Check Act, on the day of the day when Giffords, then a member of the Democratic Congress, was shot at. head to Tucson, Arizona. event for his constituents. The gunman killed six others.

The bill would require a universal background check of all firearms sales and most firearm transfers, including among private sellers.